There’s something quietly radical about choosing to slow down. In an age of endless updates and perpetual motion, pausing feels almost defiant. Recently, I’ve been thinking about what it means to truly pay attention – to notice, absorb and sit with complexity rather than rushing past it. Art invites this kind of deep looking. It asks us to hold space for ambiguity, to question what we know and to lean into curiosity. Moments of reflection aren’t passive: they’re where bold thinking begins and new ideas emerge.

Inside this issue, we embrace that space of introspection and innovation. The Aesthetica Art Prize 2025 shortlist is a guide to today’s most dynamic artists. Morgan Quaintance, shortlisted for the Jarman Award, interrogates memory and representation. Joanne Coates captures rural life with tenderness and critique. Sarah Maple contributes biting humour and cultural insight. Sujata Setia’s work powerfully blends per- sonal storytelling with social issues, using art to challenge perceptions within marginalised communities. Venice Biennale Musica and Oscar-shortlisted Brendan Dawes navigates emotion and technology through digital form whilst Mónica Alcázar-Duarte looks at identity, memory and cultural heritage. Ayo Akingbade and Àsìkò challenge colonial legacies. Future Tense, our second major exhibition, showcases immersive environments by Liz West and Squidsoup. They are talents shaping the future of experience.

We also feature Kazuaki Koseki, Earth Photo 2025 shortlistee, whose work draws attention to fragile ecosystems. The Iconic Tropical House explores climate, minimalism and architecture as a way of life. In photography, we highlight Agnieszka Ostrowska, Ashley Chappell, Debora Lombardi, Neil Kryszak and Terri Loewenthal – artists offering bold visions of light, perception and transformation. Our cover photographer is Sanja Marušić. The Last Words go to Craig Bentley, Director at the National Railway Museum in York, where architecture, art, engineering and science combine to reopen a national treasure.